Tips For Being Induced Into Labor

10 Things to Know Before Being Induced

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10 Things to Know Before Being Induced

As expectant mamas, we assume that our babies will make their debuts when they are good and ready. So many women are thrown for a loop when the doctor announces it's time for the wee one to arrive via induction. Whether the procedure is scheduled because the infant is overdue or based on the amniotic fluid levels, there are a few things mothers should know about being induced. Here's what I learned after being induced twice.

If a pregnant woman is receiving medications to induce or augment labor, then CONTINUOUS fetal monitoring IS required, in almost all US healthcare facilities. Every time the woman changes position, the baby can come off the monitor.....if induction medicine is being given and the baby is not being adequately "traced" for 10 minutes or more, the nurse can lose his or her job....and possibly her license.

When a patient is obese, moves around a lot, if the baby is very active, there's too much amniotic fluid....or a million other possible scenarios.....it can be extremely difficult to get the baby back onto the monitor after a position change. Most nurses caring for labor patients are responsible for the care of MULTIPLE patients, and cannot remain at the bedside, hand holding the monitors and adjusting them every time you or the baby moves. Some facilities have "portable" (aka cordless) monitors, where the baby can be monitored without the mom being attached to an immovable machine. Even with this technology, significant movement can hamper the ability for the baby to be continuously monitored.

During a low risk, non-induced or augmented labor, intermittent monitoring is possible.....this gives the laboring woman greater freedom to move around and change positions (which is CRUCIAL for comfort during labor). Her support people (including a doula) can more easily provide comfort measures. However, this will also depend upon the usual practice of your doctor (some doctors, under NO circumstance, will "allow" intermittent fetal monitoring....if this is something that is important to you, then you need to discuss your doctor's usual practice WELL BEFORE labor begins), the policies of the hospital or birthing center that you plan to utilize, as well as the comfort AND the experience of the nurse who is assigned to care for you.

As related to this article....many inductions are performed for reasons of "convenience" only. Before you agree to be induced because your doctor is going on vacation....or you aren't due for another week, have an unfavorable cervix, but are just really sick of being pregnant (aka....non-medical indications).....educate yourself and ASK QUESTIONS. Ask your physician his or her usual practice, and consider scheduling a meeting with the nurse manager of the maternity department of the hospital or birthing center that you are considering.

If induction becomes necessary because of health risks to you or your baby, then I'm sure most of us can agree that we would do whatever is necessary for a safe delivery. However, it is important to remember.....if the baby and the mom are comprised enough to require immediate delivery, continuous, uninterrupted monitoring of BOTH mom and baby will be essential.

However, if you are considering induction for NON MEDICAL reasons (which comprise the vast majority of inductions in the US), you MUST realize that more intervention will require more monitoring....which, in turn, will require greater restrictions....many of which will be unpleasant. Induction also significantly increases your risk for having a c-section. If these are not risks that you are willing to take for non-medical indications, then you may want to re-think being induced.

Ha seriously some nurses have no tact. Women in labor need comfort, not to be belittled. I had the WORST nurse at first, told her to get the fk out of my room and send in someone else before I knocked her on her ass, and that she needed to go shower because her hair looked like it hadnt been washed in weeks. After I was discharged , I wrote a scathing letter to the Nurse Manager and got this turd fired. She was so rude, made comments about me being overweight, needing to make sure that my water broke and that I didnt just pee my pants. Ummm ya Im pretty sure the POP I felt that woke me up, then a gush, then clear liquid running down my legs at 2 am was not freaken urine. Some really need to learn what a bedside manner is!

19 weeks

A healthy mom and baby are NOT all that matter--- that's totally wrong. Also, being bed-bound is not true, intermittent fetal monitoring is always a choice and as a patient/customer you have the right to deny anything they are telling you is necessary, another reason that getting a doula is crucial in a hospital birth.

24 weeks

Being induced sucked. Labor sucks. But babies are wonderful and beautiful. My nurse got frustrated with me because i was annoyed about being hooked up to sooo many thing, well, only like three things, but with an iv in your hand and contractions, your movements are limited. You want to lay however you please or sit however you please, whatever makes you comfortable, without someone tsking you every five minutes. "What did you expect an induction to be like, honey?" The nurse asked me, rather snottily, when I started getting frustrated. I told her to unhook me and get the needle out of my hand or I'd do it myself. My boyfriend had to talk me out of leaving right then and giving birth in the woods, and keep me from decking that nurse. I expected pain and discomfort, I didn 't expect you to make it worse by being a bitch, thanks. The team you are placed with makes a huge difference in the induction and birthing process.

@2568248 As an OB nurse, I know that the US standard of care requires that a first trimester ultrasound be on the patient's chart prior to any voluntary induction. In the first trimester all fetuses are about the same size, regardless of genetics. In the second trimester, genetics take over and it is harder to determine a true estimated date of confinment (EDC).
This is a good lists of things to consider when being induced. Under induction, you must be monitored when receiving Pitocin which limits your freedom to labor in various positions. So if you really want to follow your birth plan, you need to consider waiting for natural labor.

I disagree with inducing over due dates or convenience, the model they used to make the formula they use to Estimate due dates is based on a 20 something first time mom, in perfect health, with a perfect 28 day menstrual cycle.
How many of us fit that model?
A more accurate method takes in your actual cycle length...if it can be established, your age, if this is your first or a more delivery. The due date can be up to a 10 days later then the due date most will give you, meaning if you are induced early you could actually be birthing a preemie.

4 years

Ya know, the negative comments about how pitocin can effect a mothers ability to bond with her baby are not only unfounded, but completely uncalled for. Regardless of what methods you chose as a birth plan, bringing a child into the world is an amazing experience! And for some people to try and scare new mothers by saying that theyre having problems bonding with her baby is flat out wrong. Go get therapy and keep that info between you and your therapist!!

4 years

I am 2 days over due and getting induce friday. this my 3rd baby 2 induction. my son was 1 week over due and it went5 great! started the whole thing at 7am and he was born at2:30 that afternoon. three pushs and he was here 7lb 14oz... i only pray that this birth goes as smooth as the last one!

4 years

I was induced with my first daughter because my amniotic fluid was low (if it's lower than 5 they have to get the baby out). Not to scare anyone but my experience was really bad. I just didn't know what to expect. They broke my water and started the pitocin. I was in labor from 3pm-9pm and they stopped the Pitocin for the night to let me sleep. They put a pill up my vagina to try to soften my cervix. The next morning they started me up at 9am. I was in labor until 11pm that day but by the time I was ready to push I had no energy at all (you can't eat or drink). It was a really bad experience. I was puking and I couldn't push the baby out and my doctor didn't show up so it was someone I never seen before. I did get the epidural but they gave it to me too early and it ended up wearing off. The doctor got the forceps and tried pulling my daughter out but she wouldn't come out. They ended up pushing the baby back up and rushed me to c-section. They put me out and told my fiancee to throw on some scrubs but they never came out in the hallway to get him so he didn't even get to see her get born. The hospital was a bunch of BS and guess what? I'm overdue with this baby too and I'm being induced tomorrow night but it's a planned induced and a different doctor and hospital...hopefully everything goes a lot smoother.

4 years

I am 4 days past due...my doctor said she can induce me if I would like...your comments have been very helpful, but with this being my first I am very scared. She also wants to register the pitocin...which i'm guessing is what begins my contractions. I haven't dialated past about a 2 and I am very scared. I hope the pitocin isn't a problem. Also, I'm breastfeeding. I hope this does not become problematic either. I'm very scared. I wonder if breaking my water hurts? If I wait to do it naturally, my baby will most likely be over 9 pounds and if that happened then doc wants to do a c section which i really dont want...advice?

5 years

This is my fourth baby, but my first time to be induced. I did have pitocin with all my labors cuz of irregular contractions, nvr had a problem bonding with my babies. Things dont always go as we would like or plan in general. I feel like as long as the baby comes out to the world safe and healthy that's all that really matters, not a specific birth plan. Especially if you have a high risk pregnancy you got to have an open mind for other options you nvr know what can happen and your doc is going to know what's best for you and the baby, and if your that uncomfortable with the doc's decision then you need to look for another doc.

5 years

I was induced with my first baby because I wanted to be! I never fell in love (or bonded) with someone or something so fast in my life. My milk came in great. I loved it! I got to know when my baby was going to be here and my grandma (who was in the room with me) and my grandpa (who passed away three months later) got to share the experience with me. I am 35 weeks preg. and I am being induced in 4 weeks. I have two friends who do not believe in medicines at all during birth and had no choice but to be induced due to High Blood Pressure, and the other low amniotic fluid. So sometimes you just really dont even have a choice!

5 years

I was induced and bonded just fine with my baby! And my doctor gave me the option if I wanted to! It wasn't for her convinence!

5 years

Interesting comments. I have always thought I was traumatized by the fact that my son was induced and I had to end up with an epidural when the pitocin made my contractions come way, way, way too fast (after my doc lied to me and promised she'd only break my water -- only way I even agreed to be induced -- and it wasn't for a medical reason -- only for her convenience). My milk never came in, which I also feel could be from being induced and my body not being ready to give birth. I was ashamed for awhile, angry, etc. I felt used by my doc, completely swindled. I am mostly over it now (3 years later) but my new doc better watch out when I get pregnant again -- I will be the birth-giver from HELL to get my way this time!!! Far too many docs talk young, naive pregnant ladies into inducing just to keep their own schedule "normal." I was one of them...

5 years

This is a bad slide show as it is not based on facts... look at the facts before being induced. And to say no woman cares how her baby got here as long as he/she is healthy is a gross oversight of the importance of the birth process for both Woman and Baby. It is this chronic ignoring of this issue that causes so many women to get severely depressed after birth - which is at extremely high levels in our country, (most women feel bad for feeling let down by their birth experience) (yes, I know the hormones play a roll, but there are support groups all over that are crowded with woman who are trying to recover from the birth they ended up having - even years after their baby was born).

5 years

i'm so not bonding with my baby because my water broke early and had to be induced so as to not get an infection.
not to mention that it is a synthetic version of a mammalian hormone, oxytocin, which is the hormone that encourages let down and stimulates maternal instincts, among other things. so yeah, fall for that naturalist fallacy, why don't you and wave biased research?

That is an interesting article CG. I had pitocin with both births (wasn't in birth plan) and Epidural (which was in the birth plan). Births went as expected and bonded fine with both boys. I would love to see more statistics on there possibly being a pitocin link to autism by an unbiased (is anyone really unbiased these days?) research group.

also know that Pitocen (an artificial hormone) , is known to cause fetal distress due to impaired uterine blood flow. It can also cause hematomas, seizures, uterine rupture and post partum hemorrhage.
In many cases moms who are given pitocin have problems bonding with the child due to the drugs nature.
There is also a link between Pitocin and the rise of Autism
http://www.autismtoday.com/articles/ATTN_Researchers.htm
Please know what you are taking before deciding to induce.

also know that Pitocen (an artificial hormone) , is known to cause fetal distress due to impaired uterine blood flow. It can also cause hematomas, seizures, uterine rupture and post partum hemorrhage. In many cases moms who are given pitocin have problems bonding with the child due to the drugs nature. There is also a link between Pitocin and the rise of Autismhttp://www.autismtoday.com/articles/ATTN_Researchers.htmPlease know what you are taking before deciding to induce.

I was induced with both babies.. had no epidural on either. It wasn't as bad as people had described. I was allowed to walk around my room and change positions as I wanted. I think the key is talking to your doctor about your wishes and keeping an open mind. Both labors were beautiful!